Statement on the Dolgyal Protestors List

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) recently released a list containing the names with other personal information of Tibetans, who demonstrated during H.H. the Dalai Lama’s last visit to Europe and the USA. The following seeks to address questions as to what led to this action. Essentially, the posting of this information stems from security concerns and to raise awareness within the Tibetan community about members of a group with a history of violence e.g. murder, physical assault and arson. Both Indian and US authorities have recognized that Dolgyal-related groups are a security threat to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

For several years now, Dolgyal followers have persistently made baseless allegations against H.H. the Dalai Lama and the CTA. This campaign reached a new level with demonstrations specifically targeting His Holiness during his last visits abroad. The physical proximity of the demonstrators to His Holiness has alarmed the Tibetan community as have slogans such as “False Dalai Lama” and “Dictator”. Hence, the CTA has felt a responsibility to disclose and raise awareness about the demonstrators’ identity. As the official governing institution of the Tibetan people, the Central Tibetan Administration is accountable to the people and must address such concerns. Matters pertaining to His Holiness the Dalai Lama are treated with utmost seriousness.

The identity of the Tibetan protestors posted on the CTA web site is for the most part already in the public domain. People familiar with publicity materials released by the Dolgyal groups will know this, as several of the Tibetans whose name and photo were posted, have appeared on their own You Tube videos, printed materials, social media Facebook page, and photographs with Chinese officials. For Tibetans who do not have access to Dolgyal-related websites, CTA deems it their right to know and thus reproduced their materials.

The Central Tibetan Administration stands firm by its belief that freedom of speech is to be exercised responsibly and truthfully. The Tibetan struggle is based on non-violence, a fundamental principle which also applies to how we address internal matters such as the subject of Dolgyal. This sentiment is shared by the Tibetan people as demonstrated by the fact that none of the Dolgyal protesters whose names were posted have been subjected to any attacks within the Tibetan community since the public posting of their names. In fact, not a single Dolgyal propitiator has been harmed by the Tibetan community. Dolgyal propitiating monasteries freely exist in the Tibetan settlements and Dolgyal propitiators are issued Indian Registration Certificates (RC) which, without discrimination, allows residency in settlements, access to school, health services, scholarships, old age stipend and any other benefits.

The children of Dolgyal propitiators study in the Tibetan school system without a single case of expulsion. Moreover, far from denying them their religious freedom, Tibetan Dolgyal propitiators continue to travel within India and abroad on documents issued by the Indian government with the endorsement of the Central Tibetan Administration. In seeking legal status or political asylum in North America and Europe, Dolgyal followers could be using “denial of religious freedom” as an excuse, but the very documents on which they stay in India and travel abroad, are issued by the government of India with the endorsement of the Central Tibetan Administration. Therefore, they have neither been denied their religious freedom nor their rights to live in India and travel abroad.

It is clear that Dolgyal activities have become a tool for the Chinese government to slander His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s name.